Board game and method of playing the same

ABSTRACT

An improved board game and a method for playing the same is provided. The method has a plurality of card-faced cubes. The card-faced cubes may be divided into four different suits, including, Avenues (AVE), Drives (DR), Streets (ST) and Boulevards (BLVDS). The game generally has fifty-six cubes total. Each suit may have indicia, including: a King, Queen, Jack, numbers one through ten or a Wild. Further, the indicia and suits may be ranked. These cubes may be referred to as “blocks.” The game may allow two to six players taking turns biding, making connections, challenging and/or blocking other players from acquiring property. The player with the most city blocks at the end of the game is declared the winner. The game requires a mixture of skill and chance to win.

This application claims the priority benefit of provisional patentapplication 60/678,696 filed on May 9, 2005 by Johnnie Simmons.

An improved board game and a method for playing the same is provided.The method has a plurality of card-faced cubes. The card-faced cubes maybe divided into four different suits, including, Avenues (AVE), Drives(DR), Streets (ST) and Boulevards (BLVDS). The game generally hasfifty-six cubes total. Each suit may have indicia, including: a King,Queen, Jack, numbers one through ten or a Wild. Further, the indicia andsuits may be ranked. These cubes may be referred to as “blocks.” Thegame may allow two to six players taking turns biding, makingconnections, challenging and/or blocking other players from acquiringproperty. The player with the most city blocks at the end of the game isdeclared the winner. The game requires a mixture of skill and chance towin.

Games of poker and property acquirement have been played by millions ofpeople over the years. These games are extremely popular with family andfriends. Even further, the recent rise in poker popularity has broughtcard games to many previously unfamiliar with the game. In addition,games of property acquirement, such as Monopoly® or Risk® have long beenamong the best selling board games in the United States. Even further,these games have recently become available to play over the Internet.

However, known board games are often too complicated, last too longand/or are not exciting for many people. Therefore, the presentinvention provides a novel board game which incorporates features notbefore incorporated into a board game. The present game incorporatesskill and luck to allow a player to acquire as much of a “city” aspossible. The player acquiring the largest percentage of the “city” atthe end of the game is declared the winner.

A need, therefore, exists for an improved board game and a method forplaying the same which overcomes deficiencies of known board and/or cardgames. Additionally, a need exists for an improved board game which iseasy to play and exciting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an improved board game and amethod for playing the same. The game has a plurality of card-facedcubes. The card-faced cubes may be divided into four different suits,including, Avenues (AVE), Drives (DR), Streets (ST) and Boulevards(BLVDS). The game generally has fifty-six cubes total. Each suit mayhave indicia, including: a King, Queen, Jack, numbers one through ten ora Wild. Further, the indicia and suits may be ranked. These cubes may bereferred to as “blocks.”

The game may have fifty-six cubes, each representing a city block.

For a more complete understanding of the game, reference should be madeto the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments andto the accompanying drawings. Further, additional features andadvantages of the present invention are described in, and will beapparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments andfrom the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the game of the present inventionhaving cubes and a playing surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the game of the presentinvention having cubs and illustrating a move in the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally relates to an improved board game and amethod for playing the same. The method has a plurality of card-facedcubes. The card-faced cubes may be divided into four different suits,including, Avenues (AVE), Drives (DR), Streets (ST) and Boulevards(BLVDS). The game generally has fifty-six cubes total. It should beunderstood that the game may have more or less than fifty-six totalcubes. Each suit may have indicia, including: a King, Queen, Jack,numbers one through ten and a Wild. Further, the indicia and suits maybe ranked. These suits may be referred to as “blocks.”

The method specified by the rules below is best described by thereferring to the figures. Referring now to FIG. 1, the game may have aplaying surface 1 and blocks 2. the playing surface 1 may be a boardmade from, for example, cardboard, or the playing surface 1 may simplybe, for example, a table. To start the game, the blocks 2 may be placedface down, in a pile 3, on the playing surface 1 and shuffled. (Twoblocks 2 of FIG. 1F are not shown face down for illustrative purposes).More specifically, the blocks 2 may have a top side 30, a bottom side31, a first side 32, a second side 33, a third side 34 and a fourth side35 (not visible). The bottom side 31 of the blocks 2 may have indicia 36such as, for example, the numbers one through ten, a King 40, a Queen76, a Jack 77, or a Wild. Further, the bottom side 31 of the blocks 2may have a color such as gold or black. The top side 30, the first side32, the second side 33, the third side 34 and the fourth side 35 of theblock 2 may lack indicia 36. More specifically, the top side 30, thefirst side 32, the second side 33, the third side 34 and the fourth side35 of the block 2 may simply have, for example, a pattern common to allthe blocks 2. While the bottom side 31 of the block 2 is face down onthe playing surface 1, the players 4 may not be able to tell whatindicia 36 is on the bottom side 31 of the block 2.

To begin the game, the player 4 may select four blocks 2 from the pile 3to establish his/her starting “capital” 11. The “capital” 11 may be atemporary area in which a player 4 may store his or her blocks 2 and forwhich the player 4 may use those blocks 2 during his or her turn.Typically, the blocks 2 are placed with the bottom side 31 face down onthe playing surface 1 when the four blocks 2 are selected to start thegame. As a result, the players 4 are unaware of what indicia 36 is onthe bottom side 31 of the blocks 2 each player 4 is selecting. Theremaining blocks 2 are then placed in a row 5. Generally, the rows 5have approximately seven of the remaining blocks each. The more players4 in a game, the fewer blocks 2 will remain to be played from a “city”10 (as is discussed below).

The rows 5 are then flipped up so as to be visible to the players. Morespecifically, the blocks 2 are flipped over so that the bottom side 31of the blocks 2 are now facing upward, and visible to all the players 4.The blocks 2 remaining after each player 4 selects the initial fourblocks 2 (the “capital” 11) are placed in the rows 5 to form what iscalled “the city” 10. More specifically, the “city” 10 may be the termused to describe the remaining blocks 2 not used in all the players 4“capital” 11. The players 4 may then bid for the right to make the firstmove of the game and/or to choose the direction of turns by revealing ablock 2 from each of their players 4 “capital” 11. After a player 4 hasdepleted all of his or her “capital” 11, the “capital” 11 is restockedwith blocks 2 from that player's 4 “holdings” 20 (as described below).If a player 4 has no blocks 2 left in his or her “capital” 11 and noblocks 2 in his or her “holdings” 20, then the player 4 may be out ofthe game. The “holdings” 20 of a player 4 may be similar to a bank inwhich the player 4 attempts to accumulate blocks 2. The “holdings” 20 ofa player 4 may differ from the “capital” 11 of a player 4 in that theblocks 2 in a player's 4 “holdings” 20 may not be immediately availablefor play. Blocks 2 may be required to move from the “holdings” 20 to the“capital” 11 prior to play.

The bidding process begins by each player 4 selecting a single block 2from his or her initial four blocks 2 (the “capital” 11). The singleblock 2 is selected so that the remaining players 4 cannot see thebottom side 31 of the selected block 2 before all the bidding takesplace. After each player 4 selects his or her block 2, the players 4reveal the bottom side 31 of his or her selected block 2 to the otherplayers 4.

The player 4 with the highest ranking block 2 gets to go first and/orchoose the direction of turns of the remaining players 4. If two or moreplayers 4 have identical bids (based on the ranking of the blocks 2),the players 4 with identical bids only then re-bid until there is awinner. If a player 4 exhausts all of his or her “capital” 11 during theinitial bidding process, the entire game may be started over.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a player 4 may collect blocks 2 from the “city”10 by matching blocks 2 from the “city” 10 with blocks 2 from theplayers 4 “capital” 11. More specifically, during a player's 4 turn, theplayer 4 may select a block 2 from his or her “capital” 11 to match witha block 2 in the “city” 10. (FIG. 2 illustrates the player 4 selecting ablock 2 with a # 7) When a player 4 collects a block 2 from the “city”10, the collected block 2 is placed next to the player's 4 matching“capital” 11 block 2. The player 4 may then take back his or her initialblock 2 (again, block #7) and the corresponding matching block 2 in “thecity” 10. As a result, the player 4 has gained one additional block 2and “the city” 10 has lost one block 2. The blocks 2 may be matched bynumber 12, suit 13 and/or letter 14. If the player's 4 selected block 2can be matched with more than one of the blocks 2 in the “city” 10, theplayer 4 may take the additional matching blocks 2. For example, FIG. 2b illustrates the player 4 selecting a block 2 (a block 2 with a #8 isselected) and matching the block 2 with a corresponding #8 block 2 inthe city and a block 2 having a “Queen” 76 designation (which can bedone if the Queen 76 and player's 4 #8 block are of the same suit 13).The removed blocks 2 in FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b are then placed into theplayer's 4 “holdings” 20.

In order for a player 4 to collect a block(s) 2 from the “city” 10, thetop side 30 of the player's 4 block 2 (from his or her “capital” 11) maybe required to match with all top sides 30 of the blocks 2 in the “city”10. More specifically, a player 4 may collect blocks 2 by matching, forexample, blocks 2 in his or her possession with blocks 2 in the “city”10 by numbers 12, suits 13, and/or letter 14 (such as King 40, Queen 76or Jack 77)

Some of the blocks 2 may be gold blocks 15. The gold blocks 15 may be ofa higher rank than the remaining blocks 2. The gold blocks 15 may beconnected with lesser-ranked blocks 2 of any suit 13. However, the goldblocks 15 may not be connected with blocks 2 with numbers 12 of adifferent suit 13.

A player 4 may make a single, double or triple connection. Morespecifically, a single connection is when a player 4 may remove a singleblock 2 from the “city” 10 and place the single block 2 into his or herplayer's 4 “holdings” 20. A double connection is when a player 4 mayremove two blocks 2 from the “city” 10 and a triple connection is when aplayer 4 may remove three blocks 2 form the “city” 10 (the removedblocks 2 are placed in his or her player's 4 “holdings” 20).

A player's 4 “capital” 11 block 2 must be able to connect with allblocks 2 of the “city” 10 in which the player's 4 “capital” 11 block 2is in contact with. If no connection may be made by a player 4, the playis said to be “locked.” More specifically, a “locked” play is when noconnection can be made and the player 4 is forced to lose his or herturn.

All “capital” 11 and “city” 10 blocks 2 connected during a player's 4turn are collected and placed aside to establish a player's “holding”20. Once a player 4 has depleted all his/her “capital” 11, four moreblocks 2 are selected from that player's 4 “holding” 20 to establish new“capital” 11. If all of a player's 4 “capital” 11 and “holdings” 20 aredepleted, the player 4 is out of the game. The player 4 may elect whichblock(s) 2 to move from his or her “holdings” 20 to his or her “capital”11.

In addition to connecting to collect blocks 2, a player 4 may, in turnbuild onto the “city” 10 by adding matching city blocks 2 from his/her“capital” 11 onto the “city” 10. Therefore, a player 4 could prolong thegame, cause another player to become “locked” and/or set up a futureconnection.

A player 4 may negotiate to buy, sell, trade and/or loan a “city” 11block 2 to other players 4. All players 4 should be aware ofnegotiations made to buy, sell, trade and/or loan blocks 2. A player 4may only collect on a loan during their turn. Further, a player 4 maynot refuse to pay a collecting player 4, even if the amount to be paidwould deplete the borrowing player's 4 “capital” 11 and/or “holdings”20. All proceeds from the buying, selling, trading and/or loaning areplaced in the creditor player's 4 “holding” 20.

Instead of taking a block 2 from the “city” 10, a player 4 may elect totake a block 2 from one of his/her opponents. Taking a block 2 from anopponent is accomplished by placing a block 2 from his/her “capital” 11on the playing surface 1 to reveal the suit 13, number 12 and/or letter14 of the block 2 and then challenging the opponent. The challengedplayer 4 must respond by placing his/her own block 2, from the same suit13, next to the challenging player's 4 block 2. The challenged player 4may only use a block 2 from his/her “capital” 11. The player 4 with thehighest block 2 of that suit 13 is the winner of all the blocks 2involved in the challenge.

The challenged player 4 may elect to sacrifice a less desired “capital”11 block 2 of another suit 13 then risk loosing a desired block 2 of thesuit 13 in the challenge. During a challenge, a gold block 15 of ahigher rank may overtake a gold block 15 of a lesser rank, regardless ofsuit 13. However, gold blocks 15 of a different suit 13 may not overtakea block 2 in the challenged suit 13. All proceeds from challenges areplaced in the winning player's 4 “holdings” 20.

When gold blocks 15 are being played, a player's 4 challenge may beblocked by other players 4. More specifically, if the challenged player4 is able to respond with a gold block 15 of equal value, thechallenging player 4 is said to be blocked. Gold blocks 15 of highernumbered 12 or lettered 14 value may be blocked by combinations of goldblocks 15 of a lesser number 12 or letter 14. For example, it would taketwo Queens 76 to block a player who challenged with a King 40 (ablocking scale is provided below). All of the blocks 2 involved in achallenge are set aside to establish a “pot” 50. The challenging player4 and any challenged player(s) 4 that are able to respond to block thechallenge will then bid for the “pot” 50 with a block 2 from his/her“capital” 11. If a tie occurs during the bid for the “pot” 50, allplayers 4 involved in the tie will re-bid for the “pot” 50 until awinner is determined. All proceed from the “pot” 50 biding is placed inthe winning player's 4 “holding” 20.

A player 4 may play a gold block 15 during the bidding process or duringa turn. A single gold block 15 may equal two Kings 40, three Queens 76or four Jacks 77. A single King 40 may equal two Queens 76 or threeJacks 77. A single Queen 76 may equal two Jacks 77. A gold block 15 maybe required to be of the same suit 13 in order to overtake and connectwith numbered 12 blocks 2 of different suits 13.

The wild cube 60 has no specific value. Instead, the wild cube 60 may beplayed as any number 12, suit 13 or letter 14. During connections, thewild cube 60 can simultaneously take on the value of all blocks 2 it isin contact with. During challenges, the player 4 playing a wild cube 60must announce the value of the wild cube 60 before the wild cube 60 isplayed. The value of the wild cube 60 is then fixed for the remainder ofthe game, unless the wild cube 60 is properly moved to another player's4 “holding” 20.

The game is over when the “city” 10 is depleted or when one player 4 hasdepleted the “capital” 11 and “holdings” 20 of all other players 4. Theplayer 4 that owns the most blocks 2 in the “city” 10 is then declaredthe winner.

A player 4 who arrives after the game has started or has been shut outof the game may enter the game if he/she can negotiate for “capital” 11.

Blocking Scale 1. 2. 3. 4. Golden 1 KING QUEEN JACK KING QUEEN JACK------- QUEEN JACK ------- ------- JACK ------- ------- -------

The player 4 that owns the most blocks 2 at the end of the game may bethe winner. A player 4 which fails to keep his or her “capital” 11separate from his or her “holding” 20 may said to cause a foul. If afoul occurs, the player 4 may be required to pay other players 4, in thedirection of game play, one of his or her blocks 2. After the player 4which causes a fouls has paid the other players 4, the fouling player 4may take two blocks 2 from his or her “capital” 11, but he or she maylose his or her next turn. Any paid blocks 2 to any receiving players 4may be placed in the receiving players 4 “holding” 20 area. If a foulingplayer 4 has no remaining blocks 2 in his or her “capital” 11 and“holding” 20, then the fouling player 4 may be out of the game.

Although embodiments of the present invention are shown and describedtherein, it should be understood that various changes and modificationsto the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilledin the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention and withoutdiminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended thatsuch changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. A board game comprising: a plurality of cubes having indicia; aplaying surface wherein at least one cube is placed on the playingsurface; a city area having at least one cube; a capital area having nomore than four cubes; and a holding area wherein any cube located in theholding area may not be directly moved to the city area.
 2. The boardgame of claim 1 wherein the same indicia is located on a plurality ofcubes.
 3. A method of playing a board game comprising the steps of:providing a playing surface; providing a plurality of cubes locatedwithin the playing surface; providing at least two players wherein eachplayer selects up to four cubes from the playing surface; placing thecubes selected from the playing surface into a capital area; andcollecting cubes from the playing surface and wherein the collectedcubes are placed into a holding area.
 4. The method of claim 3 furthercomprising the step of providing indicia on the cubes.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 further comprising the step of matching indicia on a cube in theplaying surface with indicia on a cube in the capital area.
 6. Themethod of claim 3 wherein the cubes selected from the playing surfaceare selected at random.